Ed Brown IINPR Digital Services RSS Generator 0.94The best in acoustically driven jazz, featuring swing, bop, post-bop, cool and beyond from the classic sessions of yesterday and the new cats of today. And don't miss the Jazz Hot 11 Countdown on Mondays at 10:30 pm. NPR Digital Services RSS Generator 0.94Late Evening JazzThu, 08 Dec 2016 22:47:54 +0000Late Evening Jazzhttp://wrti.org
WRTI StaffFamily, friends, and food are part of our Thanksgiving memories. This year, WRTI makes sure we save room for Second Helpings!WRTI Serves Up Second Helpings Thanksgiving Weekend! http://wrti.org/post/wrti-serves-second-helpings-thanksgiving-weekend
7891 as http://wrti.orgTue, 22 Nov 2016 18:07:26 +0000WRTI Serves Up Second Helpings Thanksgiving Weekend! NPR StaffInfluential singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen has died at the age of 82, according to a publicist for his U.S. record label.Cohen died Monday, but news of his death came out late Thursday. His Facebook page had this announcement:"It is with profound sorrow we report that legendary poet, songwriter and artist, Leonard Cohen has passed away. We have lost one of music's most revered and prolific visionaries."A memorial will take place in Los Angeles at a later date. The family requests privacy during their time of grief."Cohen's latest album came out less than a month ago; reviewer Tom Moon wrote that You Want It Darker was a solemn album of elegies that "unfold with a slow, stately, church-ritual order; when you're moving toward this thick dark, every step is measured." The album was produced by Cohen's son, Adam, in a process that included recording the congregation of the family's old synagogue in Montreal."My father passed away peacefully at his home in Los Angeles with the knowledgeInfluential Singer-Songwriter Leonard Cohen Dies At 82http://wrti.org/post/influential-singer-songwriter-leonard-cohen-dies-82
9373 as http://wrti.orgFri, 11 Nov 2016 13:33:18 +0000Influential Singer-Songwriter Leonard Cohen Dies At 82Bob BoilenPatrick Jarenwattananon has been the backbone of our jazz coverage almost since NPR Music started in 2007. Patrick came to us as a 22-year-old intern and shortly after began covering legendary and rising jazz luminaries like a veteran journalist. His writing for A Blog Supreme captured the spirit of the jazz community and was a rich resource for thoughtful coverage on this living American musical culture.Recently NPR Music changed the way we cover jazz, with our wonderful member station WBGO taking the lead.Sadly, Patrick is no longer working at NPR Music, but PJ (as we call him) turned me and our listeners on to so much music, and a good deal of it through the jazz artists he brought to the Tiny Desk.So on this +1 edition of All Songs Considered, I asked Patrick to come back and talk to us all about some of the legends and up-and-comers he brought to our offices. You can hear the full conversation and music with the listen link above, or watch the featured sets below.The No BS! BrassAll Songs +1: Our Most Memorable Tiny Desk Jazz Setshttp://wrti.org/post/all-songs-1-our-most-memorable-tiny-desk-jazz-sets
9361 as http://wrti.orgThu, 03 Nov 2016 16:38:00 +0000All Songs +1: Our Most Memorable Tiny Desk Jazz SetsNina TotenbergJazz great Wynton Marsalis, a virtuoso trumpet player and Pulitzer Prize-winning composer, has written — wait for it — a violin concerto.As the daughter of the late virtuoso violinist Roman Totenberg, I was intrigued and wanted to know more. So I spent an hour with Marsalis — and the violinist he wrote his concerto with and for. (More on that later.)At 55, Marsalis has spent a lifetime exploring the roots of American music. True, he admits, he has never played the violin, but he adds that if composers wrote only for instruments they could play, the world's musical repertoire would be pretty limited.Besides, Marsalis says, "I love the violin. I always felt that if you're going to write American music and use strings, you have to learn about fiddlin'." Especially if you look at the "slave tradition of fiddlin'.""A lot of slaves were fiddlers," he observes. "A slave that could fiddle was worth as much as a buck, even more sometimes."Some of the American fiddling tradition seems evident inThe Transatlantic Collaboration Behind Wynton Marsalis' New Violin Concertohttp://wrti.org/post/transatlantic-collaboration-behind-wynton-marsalis-new-violin-concerto
9358 as http://wrti.orgTue, 01 Nov 2016 09:09:00 +0000The Transatlantic Collaboration Behind Wynton Marsalis' New Violin ConcertoSusan LewisRooted in African-American communities of the South, jazz became popular in Europe in the 1920s and '30s and influenced the development of other styles. WRTI's Susan Lewis has more on "Gypsy jazz." What is Gypsy Jazz? http://wrti.org/post/what-gypsy-jazz
8836 as http://wrti.orgMon, 10 Oct 2016 11:23:37 +0000What is Gypsy Jazz? Susan Lewis Born in North Carolina in 1926, saxophone player and composer John Coltrane spent over a decade in Philadelphia and then moved to New York. WRTI's Susan Lewis considers the impact of Coltrane, who expanded the boundaries of jazz with a wide range of styles. The Genius of Coltrane: Player and Composerhttp://wrti.org/post/genius-coltrane-player-and-composer
7086 as http://wrti.orgMon, 19 Sep 2016 15:53:34 +0000The Genius of Coltrane: Player and ComposerMeridee Duddleston You won’t find a blue-ribbon pie at this northern California fairground this weekend. But the place will be filled with multiple stages and wall-to-wall music. Here's Meridee Duddleston's take on the Monterey Jazz Festival. The Continuing Voice of the Monterey Jazz Festivalhttp://wrti.org/post/continuing-voice-monterey-jazz-festival
9277 as http://wrti.orgMon, 12 Sep 2016 12:49:22 +0000The Continuing Voice of the Monterey Jazz FestivalMaureen MalloyDecades ago, jazz on television may have been restricted to the occasional theme song or even an appearance by Ella Fitzgerald on a talk show. But, as WRTI’s Maureen Malloy reports, someone else now joins the big names of the past. Singer/saxophonist Grace Kelly has a name from the silver screen, but jazz has always been her main attraction. This year, jazz has propelled her into the spotlight. How Grace Kelly Got Jazz on TVhttp://wrti.org/post/how-grace-kelly-got-jazz-tv
9271 as http://wrti.orgTue, 06 Sep 2016 14:17:46 +0000How Grace Kelly Got Jazz on TVWRTI StaffIt was just a year ago that WRTI partnered with the Philadelphia Jazz Project to present a very unique concert featuring Afro-Brazilian percussion in Big Band Jazz style! It was the Philadelphia premiere of Letieres Leite & Orkestra Rumpilezz at the Temple Performing Arts Center, with guests Arturo O'Farrill and Steve Bernstein, and Another Holiday For Skins with Pablo Batista, Mike Boone, Luke Carlos O'Reilly, and company. WRTI Wins Award for Collaboration with Philadelphia Jazz Projecthttp://wrti.org/post/wrti-wins-award-collaboration-philadelphia-jazz-project
9171 as http://wrti.orgThu, 07 Jul 2016 19:44:25 +0000WRTI Wins Award for Collaboration with Philadelphia Jazz ProjectMeridee DuddlestonThe summer jazz festival season is about to start. Blockbuster performances at the “Big Three” longest-running summer jazz fests still engender re-makes and recordings. These historic performances live on as benchmarks. Now, starting with the Montreux Jazz Festival — founded in 1967 — WRTI examines highlights from Montreux, Newport, and Monterey.This Song Was Born At Montreux, 1969http://wrti.org/post/song-was-born-montreux-1969
9138 as http://wrti.orgSun, 26 Jun 2016 15:42:04 +0000This Song Was Born At Montreux, 1969Bob PerkinsThis year, 2016, marks the 100th anniversary of the first Great Migration, the movement of millions of African-Americans from the rural south to other parts of the U.S. that promised greater social and economic justice and opportunities. The migration included many excellent jazz musicians, some of whom became household names. For these artists, the Great Migration also provided inspiration for their creative expression.In WRTI’s original series The Great Migration, Bob Perkins explores the life and times of jazz artists who participated in this mass movement. The 16-part series continues into September 2016 when we celebrate what would have been the 90th birthday of John Coltrane, who left North Carolina to become one of the most distinctive voices in jazz.For more information on activities celebrating the Great Migration and jazz, visit the Philadelphia Jazz Project's website. The Great Migration and the Journey of Jazzhttp://wrti.org/post/great-migration-and-journey-jazz
9134 as http://wrti.orgMon, 13 Jun 2016 19:36:12 +0000The Great Migration and the Journey of JazzMeridee DuddlestonThe tremendous trumpeter Terell Stafford says finding talent for the Jazz Orchestra of Philadelphia was “super easy” because Philadelphia is filled with brilliant musicians. Chemistry is key in the band that Stafford put together in 2013. He says the jazz orchestra is what Philadelphia is about: jazz virtuosos with ties to the city, focusing on music connected to its past and present. At Last! A Jazz Orchestra for Philadelphiahttp://wrti.org/post/last-jazz-orchestra-philadelphia
8775 as http://wrti.orgFri, 10 Jun 2016 16:12:30 +0000At Last! A Jazz Orchestra for PhiladelphiaMeridee DuddlestonThe vocal virtuosity of one of the last century’s jazz giants lives on through those who came after her, scores of albums, and now a U.S. Postal Service stamp. WRTI’s Meridee Duddleston and Bob Perkins consider the late, great Sarah Vaughan. Check out the Philadelphia Clef Club's Sarah Vaughan Tribute on Thursday, June 2nd from 5 to 9 pm with live music and a display of rare and vintage photographs and art works capturing the "Divine One," exhibited along with U.S. Postal Service postage stamps and memorabilia.A Stamp of Approval for Sarah Vaughanhttp://wrti.org/post/stamp-approval-sarah-vaughan
8971 as http://wrti.orgFri, 27 May 2016 15:13:36 +0000A Stamp of Approval for Sarah VaughanMaureen MalloyEverybody has one or two favorite jazz standards, knowing them best as vocals, instrumentals, or even as big band arrangements. So, all Memorial Day Weekend, WRTI will explore the great renditions of jazz standards. Celebrate the unofficial start of summer by doing a "Double Take" with WRTI. At the top and bottom of every hour we'll play both an instrumental and a vocal version of a well-known standard. Jazz Memorial Day Weekend: Double Takes!http://wrti.org/post/jazz-memorial-day-weekend-double-takes
9096 as http://wrti.orgWed, 25 May 2016 20:00:47 +0000Jazz Memorial Day Weekend: Double Takes!Erika Ramirezhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7eal2WlYhMY Mara Hruby is a master at facing fears. The singer-songwriter born in Oakland, Calif., channels the many emotions of artists such as Julie London, Van Hunt and Ella Fitzgerald on her 2014 EP, Archaic Rapture. On that set, Hruby finds herself through a collection of jazz songs — and, in turn, faces an ex-lover's infidelity."I was with a guy who cheated on me with six women. That's why I am doing six songs, [and] why I'm calling the album Archaic Rapture. It was the darkest point in my life," she told Billboard in 2014.Hruby finishes her journey through Archaic Rapture by saying goodbye to a place she called home for four years in Berkeley, Calif., in the video for "In The Wee Small Hours," directed by Melinda James. As in the other five songs on the EP, Hruby sings sweetly and passionately of a love that once was."My aim was to convey the power of vulnerability and the courage it takes to stand in your truth, right where it all happens,Songs We Love: Mara Hruby, 'In The Wee Small Hours'http://wrti.org/post/songs-we-love-mara-hruby-wee-small-hours
9105 as http://wrti.orgWed, 25 May 2016 18:21:00 +0000Songs We Love: Mara Hruby, 'In The Wee Small Hours'Felix ContrerasRalph J. Gleason is my hero.It's impossible to put an exact date on it, but I think I started reading his column in Rolling Stone in the summer of 1973. I was 14 years old and already immersed in music. Reading him, I discovered you could write about music and get paid for it — and then I discovered his writing was just as immersive as the music we both loved.This spring, Yale University press is publishing two collections of writings by Gleason (who often signed his columns as RJG); two volumes that are both a godsend to folks like me who already know and admire his work — and a standard setter for those who should know him.Music In The Air: The Selected Writings of Ralph J. Gleason is a collection of the writings that appeared in his newspaper columns for The San Francisco Chronicle, the alternative magazine Ramparts and some from his "Perspectives" column in Rolling Stone (which he co-founded and contributed to until his death in 1975).Conversations In Jazz: The Ralph J. GleasonFrom Duke To The Dead, Ralph J. Gleason Loved It Allhttp://wrti.org/post/duke-dead-ralph-j-gleason-loved-it-all
9099 as http://wrti.orgMon, 23 May 2016 13:24:00 +0000From Duke To The Dead, Ralph J. Gleason Loved It AllMeridee Duddleston The virtuosity of the legendary Miles Davis speaks through another trumpeter who follows him in tune and time. WRTI’s Meridee Duddleston talks with the musician behind the sound in the newly released biopic, Miles Ahead.The Man Behind the Music in the New Film About Miles Davishttp://wrti.org/post/man-behind-music-new-film-about-miles-davis
9072 as http://wrti.orgTue, 17 May 2016 14:33:03 +0000The Man Behind the Music in the New Film About Miles DavisMeridee DuddlestonThe late Eartha Kitt’s strength, vulnerability, and sensuality inspired singer/songwriter René Marie’s 2014 Grammy-nominated album, I Wanna be Evil, With Love to Eartha Kitt. Marie knows firsthand the risks of setting a new course in life. When she was in her 40s, she quit her day job at a bank to devote herself to singing and composing fulltime. It was a decision that was not without repercussions. And about a year later, her marriage ended.At 42, Jazz Singer René Marie Gave It All Up to Pursue Her Dreamhttp://wrti.org/post/42-jazz-singer-ren-marie-gave-it-all-pursue-her-dream
8859 as http://wrti.orgTue, 03 May 2016 19:58:12 +0000At 42, Jazz Singer René Marie Gave It All Up to Pursue Her DreamMeridee DuddlestonFor a musician, the words “sanctuary,” “retreat,” and “haven” suggest attractive possibilities for creative expression. The Jazz Residency Program at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts isn’t based on the isolation these places evoke, but it does provide an environment conducive to a creative stream. The program is aimed at local jazz artists who can write music.A Creative Oasis for Local Jazz Composershttp://wrti.org/post/creative-oasis-local-jazz-composers
9024 as http://wrti.orgSun, 01 May 2016 22:43:41 +0000A Creative Oasis for Local Jazz ComposersMaureen MalloyJoin us this Sunday, April 24th at 9 pm for a special program that examines the making of the motion picture, Miles Ahead. This hour-long show delves into how the director and star of Miles Ahead, Don Cheadle, uses unlikely circumstances, like car chases and gunfights, to create a portrait of the legendary musical genius, Miles Davis. Hosted by Joshua Jackson, this program tells how Miles Ahead came together from the perspective of Cheadle himself, along with musician Robert Glasper, Miles’ son Erin Davis, and nephew Vince Wilburn Jr. There will also be plenty of music from the motion picture soundtrack. Don't miss it! Special Program About the New Film, MILES AHEAD, on WRTI: Sunday, April 24th, 9 PMhttp://wrti.org/post/special-program-about-new-film-miles-ahead-wrti-sunday-april-24th-9-pm
9021 as http://wrti.orgWed, 20 Apr 2016 19:43:36 +0000Special Program About the New Film, MILES AHEAD, on WRTI: Sunday, April 24th, 9 PM